Coin Portraying Emperor Maximianus
288-289
Medium
Billon
Dimensions
Diam.: 1.9 cm (3/4 in.)
Classification
coin
Department
Arts of Greece, Rome, and Byzantium
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
141507
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
The front (obverse) of this coin portrays a bust of emperor Maximianus, cuirassed, laureate, and facing right. The back (reverse) depicts Homonoia walking to the left, right hand outstretched, left hand cradling a double cornucopia. The date this coin was struck is indicated in the obverse inscription " L Γ ", which means the third year of Maximianus's reign, or 288-289 CE. Maximianus reigned as emperor from 286-305 CE.
About the Artist
Ancient Roman
The artists attributed to "Ancient Roman" in museum collections represent the anonymous craftsmen who produced the vast output of sculpture, frescoes, mosaics, and reliefs defining Roman visual culture from the Republic (c. 509–27 BCE) to the late Empire (c. 395 CE). Individual identities remain elusive, as Roman makers were typically viewed as skilled tradesmen—often enslaved Greeks or provincial...